Commutator riveting machine



April 14, 1931. 1 POOLE 1,800,567

COMMUTATOR RIVETING MACHINE Filed Fb. 15, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 14, 1931. L. E. POOLE 1,300,567

GOMMUTATOR RIVETING MACHINE I Filed Feb. 15, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 14, 1931. POOLE 1,800,567

COMHUTATOR RIVETTNG MACHINE Filed Feb. 1 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 J 7 r 20 F 3 N 2 L. E. POOLE 1,800,567

COMHUTATOR RIVEIING MACHINE Filed Feb. 15, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 124/32 Ma Ma Patented Apr. 14, 1931 entree stares FATENT LORA E. POOLE, OF ANDERSON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO DELCO-REMY CORPORATION, OF ANDERSON, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE OOMMUTATCR HIV ETIN G IYIACEINE Application filed February 15, 1929.

This invention relates to the manufacture of commutators for dynamo electric machines and particularly to commutators comprising an annulus of metal segments separated by pieces of sheet insulation, the segments and the insulating pieces having dove-tail shanks which are permanently clamped between the metal V-rings held together by a hollow core or tubular rivet, the end edges of which are deformed or swedged against the outer faces of the V-rings. This is a machine to carry out part of the method set forth in the patent to Conklin, No. 1,503,484, patented Aug. 5, 1924.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a commutator riveting machine having means for aligning the commutator, means for clamping the rings, means for deforming a tubular rivet and means for stripping the commutator from the aligning means. The provision of means for aligning and of means for stripping the commutator from the aligning means results in increased production, a more uniform product, and fewer defective pieces, thereby reducing the cost of production.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for automatically feeding preassembled commutators to and from an operating station. This is accomplished by providing a rotary turn-table having a plurality of work holders, each work holder being adapted to hold a commutator and to carry the commutator to the operating station. The feeding means permits the operator to insert pro-assembled commutators on the machine when the machine is riveting a commutator thereby increasing the production which also decreases the cost.

Further objects and advantages of the aresent invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the machine. ](Fig. 2 is a plan view of the rotary turn ta le.

Serial Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. i is a sectional view of the driving mechanism for the turn-table taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the driving mechanism taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 66 of Fig. 2 showing the commutator in position prior to the riveting operation.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 2 immediately after the riveting operation and prior to the retracting of the riveting members.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the cross head talren on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

F 9 is a plan view of the commutator.

1 is drawn to a smaller scale than Figs. 3, 4i, 5 and 8.

Figs. 6, 7 and 9 are drawn to a larger scale than Figs. 3, 4c, 5 and 8.

This machine comprises a frame; a turntable mounted on the frame, the turn-table having mounted thereon a plurality of tool sets including a work support, a clamping member and a riveting member; means for intermittently rotating the turn-tableg a reciprocating cross head carrying an aligning member; a clamping member; a riveting tool. and a driving mechanism for the cross head operating during a rest period of the turntable.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates an annulus with metallic segments 11, separated by non-conducting segments 12. These segments have been assembled previously either by hand or by a suitable machine for automatically assembling an annulus of commutators, as for example the machine disclosed in a copcnding application for patent to Lora. E. Poole, Serial No. 183.080, filed April 12, 192?, and assigned to the Delco-Remy Corporation. The assembled segments are held in position by a metallic clamping ring 13, which temporarily supports the annulus of segments. The segments are each provided with a dove-tail portion 14: so that the annulus will provide two annular V-shaped grooves 15. These grooves are lined with non-conducting V-shaped lining rings 16. These rings are made of non-conducting material which may include mica and a binding substance which will soften under the actionof heat. For clamping the annulus permanently togethenthere are proting a stripping member 29. Thestripping plate, 23 in position,

' member 29 also serves-as a washer to hold the member 29' being clamped betweena'shoulder 30011 the pin 25and the nut 2 8'. Mounted on the turntable 22 are a plurality of work supporting members or pads 32 spaced from the plate 23 by helical springs 34seated in apertures 36 in the plate 23. Pads 32 areheld down byre- 1 V taining members38, each retaining member 38 being provided with a pair of shoulders 41 and 43 which overlap the edges of adjacent pads32, as bestseen in Fig. 2. Member 38 is attached'to plate 23 by screws vthreadedly engaging the plate. The pads 32 are prevented from moving radially by the tubular clamping member 42. which fitsinto .an aperture 44 in the plate. The clamping member 42 is provided with a shoulder 46 which is seated in a recess 48 in plate 23 and an'externally threaded annulus 50 engaging internal threads in the recess 48 holds the f clamping member '42 .down in the recess f 40' against a shoulder .52 provided on the riveting member 54, which also fits into the aperture ,48. -From this it may be readily-seen that the annulus 50 rigidlyho'lds the rivet ingmember 54 and the member 42 in the recess; Member 54 is pro tubular clamping vided with tapered portions 56, 58 and 60,

each of which simulates the sides of a frustro-conical member. Intermediate thetapere'dportions56 and 58 is a cylindrical surface 61-. Thef-unction of eachof these members will appear more" clearly later.

The means forlint'ermittentlyrotating the turn-table ciomprisesa driven member'70 of a Geneva gearm'echanism, attached to the plate 23 by screws 72and pins 74, the 11174. being press-fitted into apertures, 76 and 7 8 in the driven member and the plate 23 respectively so as to prevent a relative rotary motion between the plate 23 and member 70.

The mechanism for intermittently rotating the Geneva geardriven member .70 comprises 'a"Geneva. gear driving member 80. .The

driving member '80' is keyed to a shaft 82 which carriesa Wormgear 84 whichis driven by aworm 86v carried by'the shaft 88,-upon the frame 20 is mounted a base 21 supporting a turn-table22 comprising avcirthe base 21 and is provided with a is a nut 28, abutwhich is mounted a pulley 90 driven by. the

motor 183 through a belt 91., The part 92 which is integral with the driving member 80, is the usual Geneva gearing lock member which cooperates with a cylindrical recess 94 in the Geneva gear drivenmember 70. The'shelf 96 serves as a cover. plate for the housing 98.

I O n the upright portion 100 ofthe frame 20 is mounted the reciprocating'cross head 102 having mounted thereon a-tool carrying block 103 by screws 105 only one of which is shown. An aligning member 104, which is retained in a recess 106 by means ofa retaining annular member 108, is secured to the block 103, by

screws 110. This aligning member is urged outwardly from the tool carrying block 103 by helical springs 112:seated in cylindrical recesses 114, in the-annular collars 116, as best vj seen in Fig.7. Thealigning member 104 is provided with concentric tapering surfaces 118 and 120 and with-an annular recess 122, the function of each of these will appear more clearly later. Member 104 also has an aperture 124 into which fits atubular-clamping member 126 having integral therewith ashoulder 128 fitting the recess 106. Through the center of the tubular member 126 extends the deforming member 132 provided with a collar 134* fitting into a suitable aperture.

Member 132 has a threaded 'end'136 threadedly engaging the block 103 and is provided withtapering. surfaces 138,140 and 142, each of which simulates the sides of a frustro-conical surface. tions 138, and 140 is" a cylindrical surface 144.

Intermediate the tapered por The driving mechanism for intermittently reciprocating the cross head "102 comprises a continuously driven flywheel and belt pulley 150 which may be driven by a belt, not shown. The belt pulley is rotatably' mounted on a shaft 152, journalled in the upright support 100. Mounted upon the shaft 152isan eccentric which cooperates with the. connecting rod 154,'which is pivotally connected to the cross head 102, so as'to reciprocate the cross head 102 Whenever'shaft- 152. is rotatedQv notar motion may be imparted fromthe flywheel 150 to the shaft 152 by mean's ofa one revolution clutch 156 havingfthe driving member permanently attached to the pulley 150fand- .the driven memberattachedto the'shaft 152. A suitable mechanism for-causingthe one revolutionclutch 156 to be engaged will now be described. Mounted onitheidriving meme .ber 80 is a detent'160, secured to the Geneva .geardriving member1'80 by screws 161, only one of which is shown This 'detent actuates a rod162 passingjthrough a recess163 in the base 21' and. through rectangular transverse aperture in stub-shaft 25 and pivotally connectedto an arm 164 by a link165. Arm 164 4 is fixedly attachedto a shaft 166 journalled in a pair'of brackets 1,68 attached to the frame 100, only one ofthe brackets 168 being shown.

- Near one end of the shaft 166 is mounted another arm 170, which is pivotally connected to a trigger, of a well known construction hence not shown, on the clutch 156, by a connecting link 172. A compression spring 17 4 surrounding a portion of the link 172 and positioned intermediate a nut 176, which threadedly engages the link 172, and a bracket 17 8 mounted on the frame 100, urges the connecting link upwardly toward the clutch 156, as viewed in Fig. 1, thereby tending to rotate the shaft 166 in a counterclockwise direc tion, as viewed inthe direction of the arrow in Fig. 1, so as to bias rod 162 towards member 80. It can be readily seen that as the Geneva gear driving member 80 rotates and when the pin 180 in member 80 is out of engagement with Geneva gear driven member 70, the detent 160 will move rod 162 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 4, thereby rotating shaft 166 in a clockwise direction so as to release the trigger of the one revolution clutch 156, thereby causing the shaft 152 to be rotated through one revolution forcing the cross head 102 downwardly and then upwardly.

Operation The operator, before setting the machine in motion, places a pre-assembled commutator, on a work support located in position A and a pro-assembled commutator on each work support from A in a clockwise direction as viewed 1n Figs. 1 and 2 to and including B.

, insulating V-ring 16 to fit into this recess.

The flywheel 150 may now be set in motion and then the motor 183 started so as to supply power to the machine. The turn table 22 is intermittently rotated by the Geneva gearing 70, 83 so as to periodically rotate the turn table. The work supports are so arranged on the turn table that when the turn table is at a .rest, the rivet deforming member 54 on the turn table and the rivet deforming member 132 carried by the reciprocating cross head 152 are aligned.

As the detent 160 on the driven Geneva gear member 80 actuates member 162 to the right as viewed in Fig. 4, the flywheel 150 will be connected with the shaft 152 during one revolution of the flywheel, thereby bringing the crosshead 102 down to the position disclosed in Fig. 7 so as first to align the commutator segments by means of member 104 engaging the commutator segments by its surfaces 118 and 120 so as to resiliently hold the segments between members 32 and 104, then to clamp clamping rings 18 between clamping members 42 and 124 so as to force the rings 18 into the V-shaped notches 14 in the segments 11 and 12. After the rings 18 have been partially clamped by members 42 and 124, the tubular member 17 will then be engaged by member 132, and as member 132 approaches member 54, each of the ends of 17 will be flared or swedged, as clearly seen in Fig. 7.

As the crosshead returns to the up position, the commutator may follow the crosshead upwardly part ways. The upward movement, however, is limited, as the stripping member 29 will engage the outwardly extending riser bars 212, thereby limiting the upward movement of the commutator and stripping it from the aligning means.

Immediately after the crosshead has cleared the commutator segments, the driving member of the Geneva gear 80 is ready to engage and rotatethe driven member 70, thereby advancing another work support with a pro-assembled commutator thereon to position B, which will be acted upon next. The detent 160 again engages member 162 thereby setting the crosshead in motion so as to rivet the tubular member of this commutator.

During the rest period of the work table and during the time that the commutator segment is being acted upon by the reciproeating crosshead, the operator places a pre' assembled commutator on the work support, which has been advanced to position A, there being sufficient time during the rest period for the operator to remove a riveted commutator at station C and to place a preassembled commutator on the work support at station A.

It will be noted in Fig. 7 that the tubular member 17 has been partially flared, the reason for this being that it is sometimes desirable to first. partially flare the rivets so as to loosely hold the commutator segments and then to apply heat so as to soften the insulating material to permit the final operation of assembling the commutator segments.

This invention is not limited to the manufacture of commutators having two rings, each separate from the tubular core. It may be used with a slight modification in the manufacture of commutators having one of the V-rings integral with the sleeve. It may also be used where the clamping rings are fixed in position in one step. It will be readily seen that this machine will expedite the step of riveting the commutators in that the commutator segments are automatically aligned with the deforming members, in that the pre-assembled commutators are automatically fed to the deforming memsupported'by theheadzand base respectively,

'-;bers,.and in that the commutators'iare auto m'atically stripped from the aligning means,

therebyreducing thelmanuallabor required,"

WVhile the' for m ofeinbodiment ofthe present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form,it is tobe understoodthat other forms might be adopted, all coming What is claimed is as follows;

1. A riveting inachinefora commutator comprising annulus of insulated segments,

Within the scope of the claims which rollovi' 7 v i -tion, aWork table; a-pluralityof tool sets mounted on the Work table, each tool set includingfa resiliently mounted pad for sup clamping rings for'engaging the segments,

anda tubular rivet for holding the rings in spaced relatiomwhich comprises infcombination, a plurality of movable deviceseach fladapte'd. to hold a preassembled commutator,

means forforming the end of the rivet so as to V holdlthe clamping rings in spaced relation,

7 and means N for automatically moving the rivet forming position." v 2; A riveting machine commutator holding devices successively into for a commutator .jcomprising an'annulus of insulated segments,

7 fclamping rings tori-engaging the'segments,

' and a tubularjrivet' for holding the rings in spaced relation, which comprises in combina-r tion, aturn-table having a plurality of devices each'adapted to support a commutator,

means for intermittently rotating the turn-.7 table, a device for forming the endofthe rivet to'hold the clampingrings in spaced relation, and a mechanism {for operating [said rivet forming device during'a rest period of said *turn t able." ,3; A =.riveting machinefor a commutator comprising an annulus ofinsulated segments, clamping rings for engaging the segments,

7 anda 'tubular rivet forholding 'thezri-ngs in 5 comprising anannulus of insulated segments,

Y spaced relation, which comprises in combination; a plurality ot devices each adapted to "hold' a pre-ass'embledcommutator; means for i1 4. A i riveting machine zi'spaced relation, Which comprises in combina -formingthe ends of the'rive'ts to hold the =clamping=ringsin spaced'relation; and means for moving the Work holdersintermittently "and successively to and from the rivet end forming means and means for causing the end {forming means to: operate during rest pe v 1 clamping *ri igsi-for engaging the segments,

rand a tubular rivet for holding the rings :in

I "tion,i"a base,ia -head inovable'relative to' the ibase', aligned rivet-end deforming members supported by the head and base respectively,

members engaging "the clamping rings and independent: means supported the head v for-aligning the commutator with saidrivet rivet to be deformed.

comprising an annulus of insulated segments,

the rings beforethe deformingoperation;be

gins, and mechanism; for operating the Iri ovable head for advancing'said head toWardthe base Whereby thetub'ular rivet isdeformed so as to hold the clamping rings inengage-- ment with the segments;

53A riveting machine fora commutator comprising an annulus of insulated segments,

porting the .;pre-assembled commutator, a

her-for deformingthe rivet; and means cooperating[with each of the tool sets in -succession for clamping-the parts against the tool set I for holding the clamping rings -'in spaced relation and forcausing the'vtubular 6. A riveting machine for a commutator clamping rings for engaging the segments, anda tubular rivet for holdingthe rings in spaced relation; which comprises in combination, a Work table; a pluralityof tool sets mounted on the ork table, each toolset in- .cluding a Work support forsupporting the work piece, a clamping member for engaging one of the clamping rings, anda rivet deforming member for deforming the rivet; driving means and movable means actuated by the driving means for cooperating With each of the tool sets in succession for clamping the WOIk' against the tool set so as to hold the'cla nping rings in spaced relationand to cause the tubular rivet to be deformed.

7. A riveting machine for a commutator "clamping-rings forengaging the segments,

and a tubular rivet for holding the rings in spaced relation, which comprises 'in'combinai tio'n,-a- Work table a plurality of tool sets mounted on the Worktable, each tool set ining the Workagainst'the tool sets so-astlo hold the clamping rings in engagement with the segments.

8. u A riveting comprising an-annulus of insulated segments,

- clamping: rings for engaging the l segments, and atubular rivet for holding the rings in spaced relation, Which comprises i-n combination a Work table; a plurality-0f tool sets,

eluding a work support, and a rivet support; ClI1V1I1gdTl6flJlS; movable meansa'ctuated by machine for a commutator each tool set including a clamping member V I i I and a rivet supporting member; [driving members, a the: clamping members engaging ing means; a clamping member carried by the movable means cooperating with each of the clamping members on the work table in succession to hold the clamping rings in spaced relation; and a rivet deforming means carried by said movable means for deforming the rivet when the clamping rings are held in spaced relation by the clamping members.

9. A machine of the class described, comprising in combination, a rotary turn table; a plurality of work supports mounted on the turn table, each support including a resilient 1y mounted annulus and a fixed core, the annulus and the core cooperating to hold a work piece; a reciprocating crosshead; a forming tool carried by the crosshead; means for intermittently rotating the turn table to align the work supports in succession with the tool; means carried by the cross head for aligning a workpiece, said work piece being supported by the work support in alignment with the forming tool; and means for reciprocating the cross head during the rest period of the turn table whereby the tool is caused to deform the work piece.

10. A riveting machine for a commutator comprising an annulus of insulated segments, clamping rings for engaging the segments, and a tubular rivet for holding the rings in spaced relation, which comprises, in combination, means for aligning the commutator segments; means for applying axial pressure upon the clamping rings; other means for deforming the rivet to cause it to hold the rings in clamping engagement with the se ments, said aligning means aligning the commutator with the rivet deforming means before the axial pressure means operates and causes axial pressure to be maintained upon the commutator while the rivet is being deformed; and mechanism for operating each of said means.

In testimony whereof I hereto aflix my signature.

LORA E. POOLE. 

